The Presidency’s relations with the other institutions The European Parliament (1)

1. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (1) • The presidency presents its programme to the EP at the beginning of its term of office • At the end of the term, it reports to the Parliament on progress achieved. • Each of these interventions is followed by a debate • Special preparation is needed • complexity  coordination • huge overload to the staff • special training for the preparation • AGRI + FISH + ENVI = 3 x 2 occasions „during” the PRES

2. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (2) • The President of the European Council submits an oral report to the EP following the meeting of the EC • (Yearly written report)  • Plenary sittings: MRD – no tasks.  (MFA – yes) • Not compulsory occasions: • At formal sitting of the EP on the occasion of visits by Heads of State or Government, the Presidency may be represented • The President of the EC does not make any statement on these occasions, but is invited to the meal accompanies such visits • There may be private meetings between the PRES and the Heads of State or Government visiting the Parliament. • PRES is the chair of the CWG, not the representative of the Hungarian view. (Compromise or national interests?)

3. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (3) • Committees: • ??? Lisbon • Exchange of views (sectorial) – relevant EP committees • The PRES is invited to most EP committees • The minister makes a brief statement and answers questions on matters within his field. • The GSC assist in preparing these statements • Practice is one EoV, but increasingly some committees want two EoV’s

4. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsThe European Parliament (4) • Trialogues: • Linked to specific issues • PRES of the EC, Commissioner, president or vice president of the EP, and the chairperson of the relevant EP committee, as well as some officials. • budgetary matters, • horizontal issues, • management of procedures • The rule of co-decision procedure: the negotiation of compromise texts for reaching agreement on proposal for legislative acts • Strasbourg – periodically: informal tiralogue – to raise general policy questions, question of the operation of inter-institutional relations

5. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsGSC (1) • close cooperation • helping hand of the PRES • advisor • information source • experienced in tactics reaching consensus • represents the EC as well • it thinks that the position of the PRES is against the Treaty • obstruct the agreement (in case of weak majority)

6. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsGSC (2) • writes report from the meetings • spreading the documents to the EC and the COREPER • spreading the documents to the delegations • the PRES papers as well • involves itself and the PRES in the preparatory part of the papers • responsibility of the PRES (!) • without green-light, the GSC will not forward any documents

7. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsLegal service of the Council • EP, COM, EC has an own LS • sometimes they are in contrast with each other • PRES has to ask the LS to take part in a meeting if it is necessary • Personal relations are crucial  better to discuss not in front of the other MS • Their opinion is decisive (better to take into consideration) • If the different LS’s views are in contrast  HU legal experts

8. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsOther Institutions • Joint parliamentary committees in the context of agreements with third States (HR, IZL) • EC – draw up the programme • GSC • Court of Justice • Court of Auditors • Committee of the Regions and the Economic and Social Committee • PRES is often asked to participate at conferences • COP, COB-COSAC, COR • National Bodies

9. The Presidency’s relations with the other institutionsMedia • The Presidency should be the first speaker in a press conference after a meeting • an expert has to write the press release during the meeting • fast overview from the speaker • no time for deeper evaluation • chairperson has to inform the media about the timing of the press conference

10. PRES in the decision making system of the EU • The role of the PRES has changed • chairmanship • agenda-setting • brokerage • representation • leadership • PRES: Separate Body in the Body • agreements • running the negotiations • daily functioning of the EU

11. The role of the PRES - Chairmanship • managing the agenda • chairing the meetings and the discussions • to call the Council Meetings • planning the timing of the meeting • preparing the aganda • spreading the papers efficient effective

12. The role of the PRES – Agenda setting • PRES sets up the agenda • Items are inherited from the previous PRES’s • priority areas / lists • 150-200 legislative acts are adopted (!) • to control the rhythm of the negotiations (speed up or slow down) • approach / focus / influence • items can be put on the freeze

13. The role of the PRES – Brokerage • MS avoiding the open confrontation • consensus finding • solidarity – „no” voting – no target • handling the minority • convincing or building in their approach • PRES = neutral - honest broker • special relations, special interest • in reality: PRES seems to be neutral • open support of the minority is sticky • PRES keeps certain information (!) • GSC summing up the positions of the MS, briefings etc. • helping hand in tactics, procedural and legal issues, • bilaterals  to get know the borders of their compromise ability • complex information about the „team”

14. The role of the PRES – Representation • negotiation in the name of the MS’s • representing the MS • EC is represented by the MS (mainly in informal meetings) • PRES can negotiate with 3rd States (candidates) • Represent the MS’s approved positions • flexibility for success

15. Nándor Béki Ministry of Rural Development 1055. Budapest, Kossuth L. tér 11. E-mail: Nandor.Beki@vm.gov.huTel.: +36 1 795-2001 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!